I went into active labor this weekend.  Contractions were steady and I had to stay focused to keep up with the changes I was experiencing.  There was pacing, deep breathing, short bursts of rest between flurries of activity, lots of prayer, and, of course, chocolate cravings.  There were so many details and decisions that seemed to coalesce at once.  I had moments of complete control interspersed with moments of total overwhelm.  I knew I would need to go deeply within to find my inner voice of wisdom.  I also knew I would need plenty of support.

I sent out an alert to my amazing birth team:  a hand-picked group of individuals who wholeheartedly agreed to show up for me on a moment’s notice.  Literally more than 20 people stepped up to cheer me on, lend a hand, send prayers, and bring high vibe energy to my birthing experience.  Some had their own personal experience to share, but most were just happy to join in the excitement and hold a space of joy and possibility.  After approximately 40 weeks of gestation, my book was ready to be born.

Joining Joanie is a book about my journey with my mother through her dementia.  There’s nothing like a progressive neurological disease to help one get their priorities in order quickly.  And there’s nothing like dementia to turn everything upside down and inside out on a daily basis.  This book was written to share the challenges, triumphs, humor, loss, and creative communication that we experienced and cultivated as we sought to join Joanie through each stage of her disease.

For anyone who has ever known or loved someone with Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or memory disorders, this book was written for you.  It is designed to support you through your own journey and show you that you can indeed deepen your connection to your loved one.

Thanks to the love, dedication, and diligence of my amazing birth team, my book Joining Joanie reached Best Seller status in two categories on the first formal day of its release.  Because of my phenomenal editor (and sister) and the superb guidance of my coach, this book has taken flight in a way that I would not have achieved on my own.  It does indeed take a village to birth a book.  And I’m so grateful for my village of amazing souls.

Stephanie Banks

Intuitive Channel, Soul Insight LLC

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